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Pakistan's Kasab acceptance a small step: India- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times
NEW DELHI: Even as Pakistan’s admission on the surviving Mumbai attack terrorist vindicated India’s stand, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee launched a scathing attack against the Pakistani government for its “consistent flip flops’’ on the issue and wondered if there was a denial in the offing.
“At least one actor who has been captured has admitted that he is a Pakistani citizen. Now you are saying that Pakistan also has admitted it. I don’t know whether tomorrow there will be again a denial,” Mr Mukherjee said. “If it is admitted that he (Kasab) is a Pakistani, they should carry on further investigation and take it to the logical conclusion so that perpetrators could be brought to justice,” he said.
Mr Mukherjee’s criticism of the Pakistani government comes on the heels of the drama that unfolded in Islamabad on Wednesday with senior functionaries kept contradicting each other throughout the day over Mumbai attack terrorist. It ended with a final admission by Pakistani information minister Sherry Rehman that Kasab is a Pakistani national and the sacking of Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani for jumping the gun in admitting Kasab’s nationality.
``He (Kasab has told us quite categorically where he comes from, where he has received arms training from and where his handlers are located. Unfortunately, despite this, we have seen a consistent flip-flop in the reaction of the government in Islamabad,’’ Mr Mukherjee said.
The Indian establishment regards the admission of Kasab’s nationality as a small step forward, but is now determined to ensure that the international pressure on Pakistan does not abate. The admission by Pakistan is also an indicator for the establishment that the diplomatic pressure is finally getting some results.
But New Delhi is also aware that it will take a lot of time and effort to push Pakistan to take even small steps. The Pakistani admission comes over a month after the Mumbai attacks even though there was insurmountable evidence of Kasab’s nationality, which was further supplemented by the international and Pakistani media which tracked down the terrorist’s village and family.
The concern is that if it took over 30 days to get Pakistan acknowledge Kasab’s nationality, it would be a long time before India can hope to book the Mumbai attack perpetrators who are in Pakistan.
Predictably, Mr Mukherjee expressed frustration with the Pakistani government’s reactions and refusal to take any action towards bringing the accused to book. The minister, who was speaking at the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas meeting in Chennai, said that even after a month of the attacks there was still no forward movement on booking the perpetrators. “At the same time, after over a month of the operation there continues to be recalcitrance in bringing the perpetrators to justice,’’ he said.
Mr Mukherjee also called the Mumbai attacks unique and highlighted the importance of a united international stand.
NEW DELHI: Even as Pakistan’s admission on the surviving Mumbai attack terrorist vindicated India’s stand, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee launched a scathing attack against the Pakistani government for its “consistent flip flops’’ on the issue and wondered if there was a denial in the offing.
“At least one actor who has been captured has admitted that he is a Pakistani citizen. Now you are saying that Pakistan also has admitted it. I don’t know whether tomorrow there will be again a denial,” Mr Mukherjee said. “If it is admitted that he (Kasab) is a Pakistani, they should carry on further investigation and take it to the logical conclusion so that perpetrators could be brought to justice,” he said.
Mr Mukherjee’s criticism of the Pakistani government comes on the heels of the drama that unfolded in Islamabad on Wednesday with senior functionaries kept contradicting each other throughout the day over Mumbai attack terrorist. It ended with a final admission by Pakistani information minister Sherry Rehman that Kasab is a Pakistani national and the sacking of Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani for jumping the gun in admitting Kasab’s nationality.
``He (Kasab has told us quite categorically where he comes from, where he has received arms training from and where his handlers are located. Unfortunately, despite this, we have seen a consistent flip-flop in the reaction of the government in Islamabad,’’ Mr Mukherjee said.
The Indian establishment regards the admission of Kasab’s nationality as a small step forward, but is now determined to ensure that the international pressure on Pakistan does not abate. The admission by Pakistan is also an indicator for the establishment that the diplomatic pressure is finally getting some results.
But New Delhi is also aware that it will take a lot of time and effort to push Pakistan to take even small steps. The Pakistani admission comes over a month after the Mumbai attacks even though there was insurmountable evidence of Kasab’s nationality, which was further supplemented by the international and Pakistani media which tracked down the terrorist’s village and family.
The concern is that if it took over 30 days to get Pakistan acknowledge Kasab’s nationality, it would be a long time before India can hope to book the Mumbai attack perpetrators who are in Pakistan.
Predictably, Mr Mukherjee expressed frustration with the Pakistani government’s reactions and refusal to take any action towards bringing the accused to book. The minister, who was speaking at the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas meeting in Chennai, said that even after a month of the attacks there was still no forward movement on booking the perpetrators. “At the same time, after over a month of the operation there continues to be recalcitrance in bringing the perpetrators to justice,’’ he said.
Mr Mukherjee also called the Mumbai attacks unique and highlighted the importance of a united international stand.
